Mower



'Mmh 11, 1930.

C. PEARSON MOWER Filed Sept. 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l C. PEARSON Marchl1, 1930.

MowER Filed Sept. 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet March l1, 1930. c. PEARsoNMOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 17, 1928 J my@ JF M a .IW @Cpo wan wE E l a m -@V-- O if# m y x A f f l y* ./.ql wh. L, i j NE mg ,IL 4www-- l ,Nwmww @il www@ mw @u -www NJ f se.- eiievesrees.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES PEARSON, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL HAR- VESTER COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MOWER Application filed September 17, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in a mowing machine.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved ground wheeloperated driving mechanism for the sickle, which driving mechanism willbe simple and enclosed in a dirt proof, lubricant containing, casing.

Another object is to provide an improved two piece axle structureincluding a simple pawl and ratchet connection therebetween foroperating the main driving gear.

Other objects are to provide an improved clutch in the gear train and awear take up adjustment for one of the gears. Also to provide in thegear train stationary countershafts for the purpose to appear.

Briefly, these desirable objects are achieved in the combination hereinshown and de- 20 scribed, wherein a two piece axle carries therebetweena novel ratchet and pawl drive operating a main gear in mesh with aconstantly turning clutch part n a stationary countershaft, this clutchpart driving an intermittent elutch part geared to drive the final drivebevel gear also on va stationary` endwise adjustable countershaft, saidbevel gear driving the pitman for the sickle. The intermediatecountershatt is adjustable endwise to operate the clutch.

In the drawings showing the invention Figure 1 is a general plan View ofthe iinproved enclosed gear, mower;

Figure 2 is a rear end, elevational detail view of the clutch operatinglever;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view partly in section through the geartrain as seen along the line 3 3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a section through the gear train as seenalong the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a face View, partly in section, of the assembled pawl andratchet drive mechanism;

Figure 6 is a face view of the intermittent clutch part on theintermediate countershaft;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through the same part; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view Serial No. 306,409.

through the constantly turning clutch part on the intermediatecountershaft.

The main frame of the mower preferably comprises an integral casting 10including a centrally offset gear case part 10a and hub 55 parts 10bextending laterally therefrom. The casting also includes a front frameextension 10c and a cross brace part 10d. It also emlppdies a socket1()e to receive a draft tongue Connected in any approved manner to thismain frame is a coupling arm 12 rockably carrying in the usual way, acoupling yoke 13 having pivotally connected thereto a laterallyextending cutter bar 14 carrying a shoe 15 65 and guard fingers 16 allas in standard mower practice. The sickle is shown at 17. The mainobject of this invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism forreciprocating this sickle.

Digressing for a moment before describing this drive, attention iscalled to the fact that the usual lever controls for adjusting thecutter bar are also shown and provided. At 18 is a lever for tilting thecutter bar by rock- 75 ing the yoke 13 on the grassward end of the arm12- through a link connection 19. A hand lever 20 and foot lever 21 arealso shown for pivoting a lift arm 22 carried on the frame, said arm 22having the usual connections 23 80 for raising the cutter bar up in avertical direction as will be understood by those versed in this art. Acounter-balance spring 24 assists this lift operation in the usualmanner. The improved drive mechanism for reciprog5 eating the sickle 17will now be described.

The axle 0f the mover comprises two pieces 25, 26 arranged coaxially andend to end, the piece being short and the piece 26 being relativelylonger. The inner ends are ar- 90 ranged in the case 10a as best shownin Figure 4. Each outer end of each piece 25, 26, carries fast thereon,a ground drive and support wheel 27. Vhen the mower moves, the wheelsand axle pieces, of course, rotate as 95 will be understood. The piece25 has keyed thereto by a tapper key 28 and take-up nut 29 the hub 30 ofa plate 31 constituting a ratchet pawl carrier, the hub 30 of whichspans the adjacent end of the axle piece 26 to provide 100 a durable andsubstantial support for the inner end thereof, while the hub 30similarly forms a durable and substantial support for` the inner end ofthe short axle piece 25 as can be seen. Similarly the axle piece 26 hassecurd thereto a ratchet pawl carrier plate 32 abutting the end of thehub 30 of the adjacent plate 31. Each plate 31, 32 is provided withinwardly projecting pockets 33, constituting means for pivotallymounting pawls 34 normally pressed out by springs 35 seated adjacentpockets 36 as best shown in Figure 5. Loosely journaled on the hub 30between the pawl carrier plates 31, 32 is a large wheel 37 having anexternal spur gear surface 38 and an internal ratchet surface 39 intowhich the ends of the pawls 34 are pressed by the springs 35 so thatobviously when the axle sections 25, 26 turn ahead, the said wheel 37 islikewise turned ahead through the plates 31, 32 and pawls 34. Thecompactness of this arrangement wherein the gear and ratchet flange ofthe large wheel 37 serves to enclose the ratchet pawl plates 31, 32 isto be particularly noted.

The case 10a just ahead of the two piece axle is formed with journalboxes 40 in which is arranged a transverse countershaft 41, said shafthaving endwise but not rotative movement. In other words thiscountershaft does not turn. The shaft 41 carries loosely the long hub 42of a relatively large spur gear 43, see Figures 4, 6 and 7. The hub 42is held against coaxial movement on or relative to the shaft by means ofcollars 44. As shown in Figures 6, and 7, the gear has a clutch face 45formed thereon which face engages and locks lwith a complementary clutchface 46 formed on the flange 47 of a gear 48 formed on a hub 49 asshown, said hub being loosely journaled for rotation on the hub 42.heretofore mentioned. See also Figure 8.

The spur gear 43 meshes with and drives a pinion 50 loosely mounted torotate on a normally stationary countershaft 51 journaled in boxes 52formed on the case 10a. Integrally formed with the pinion 50 is a largebevel gear 53 meshing with a bevel pinion 54 on a longitudinal shaft 55extending through a sleeve 56 cast with the main frame part 10. Theintegral gear struc-ture 50, 53 is held againts axial movement relativeto the countershaft 51 by means of collars 57.

It is to be noted that the end of the countershaft 51 is threaded at 58and carried in a nut 59, said shaft having a squared end 60, whereby awrench may be used to adjust or shift the shaft 51 by screwing the sameaxially of its length in its bearings 52 to take up wear between thegears 50, 53 so that the same may at all times be kept in proper meshingengagement.

The longitudinal shaft 55 carries at its front, free end, a conventionalfly wheel 61, see Figure 1, provided with an eccentric wrist pin 62 towhich is connected a pitman 63, connected in turn in any usual way tothe knife head 64 made fast to the sickle 17.

The drive to the sickle may be disconnected to stop the same, by meansof a lever 65 mounted on the main frame 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,said lever being rockable to engage cam notches 66 in a cam bracket 67.Thus, when the lever is rocked from the low notch to the high notch, thelever is shifted in a stubbleward direction and as the lever is ineffect a crank extension of the shaft 41, said shaft is shifted axiallyof its length against the pressure of a coil spring 68 encircling thesame. See also Figure 4. As the shaft 41 shifts, necessarily the hub 42and gear 43 must also shift to cause a disconnection of the clutchfaces, 45, 46 as will be obvious. The gear 48 is so mounted andconstructed that it cannot shift.

An important advantage of this mower resides in the fact that alloperating parts of the driving mechanism are located in the gear case10a closed by a removable cover plate 69. The enclosed case thusprovided makes for easy lubrication of the parts as the case will alwayscarry a level of oil for this purpose, which oil will be picked up bythe gears to splash the same thoroughly to lubricate all parts. and 43will always play in oil, two upright walls 70 are provided on the slopedbottom of the case to retain pools of oil. See Figure 3. An oil plug 71may be provided in the cover 69.

The hub 42, as shown in Figure 7, receives lubricant through ducts 72feeding to oil grooves 73 to lubricate the clutch and rotation of thehub 49 on said hub 42. Of course, this also lubricates the rotation ofhub 42 on the shaft 41. Similarly the integral gear structure 50, 53,has a duct 74 for feeding lubricant to the shaft 51, as shown in Figure4. As shown in Figure 3 oil may pass from the case 10a through sleeve 56to lubricate the shaft 55 and flywheel 61. It must now be appreciatedthat this compact driving mechanism lends itself to easy and effectivelubrication in the manner described.

Additionally, the use of gears loosely mounted to rotate on stationarycountershafts is advantageous in that it eliminates the use of elaborateshaft bearings and permits the use of simple mountings for thesecountershafts 41 and 51. The operation of the improved and simplifiedmower will now be described.

Any suitable form of draft power is connected to the tongue 11 to pullthe mower. As the mower moves and the wheels 27 turn, the axle pieces25, 26 also turn and rotate the plates 31. As long as these plates turnforwardly the pawls 34 lock with and drive the gear 38, which drives theear 48. Gear 48 through the clutch 45, 46, rives gear 43,

To insure that the gears 38 llO MESTERS- which in turn drives gears 50,53, the latter driving gear 54 to rotate the shaft 55. Thus, theflywheel 61 rotates and through the eccentric pin 62, pitman 63, andknife head 64, the sickle 17 is reciprocated. As long as one of thewheels 27 is turning ahead the sickle will be driven, provided, ofcourse, the clutch 45, 46 is engaged. The spring 68 acts always to holdthe clutch so engaged as will be understood. 0n turns, that wheel 27which rotates the fastest will drive the sickle as the pawl and ratchetmechanism described permits of a differential turning movement of thewheels 27 without slowing up the speed of reciprocation of the sickle.In other words, either plate 31 and its associated pawls 34 issufficient to operate the sickle.

Adjusting the shaft 51 endwise by means of the threaded part 58 andportion 60 allows for any necessary take-up to compensate for wearbetween the gears 53 and 54?.

Actuation of the clutch 45, 46 to disconnected position is made easy bythe cam controlled lever 65 which rocks and shifts the countershaft 41endwise.

The long hub part 30 spanning the adjacent ends of the two axle piecesmakes a very durable mounting, for these pieces, and particularly, forthe shorter piece 25. The wedge pins 28 passed through this axle pieceand hub is also a simple durable structure.

Mounting the ratchet drive in the case 10a at the middle makes forcompactness and easy lubrication, as well as a remarkably quiet runningmechanism, which furthermore is dust and dirt proof, due to itsenclosure.

From this detailed disclosure, it can now be seen that an improved moverhas been provided which accomplishes all of the desirable objectsheretofore recited.

It is the intention to include within the scope of this invention allimmaterial changes and modifications of the illustrative embodimentthereof herein shown, as is indicated by the appended claims.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A mower having a frame, a two piece axle in the frame carryingwheels, a pawl carrying plate having a hub spanning adjacent inner endsof the axle pieces, means securing the hub to one of the pieces to turntherewith, a ratchet gear, said pawls being enclosed by the gear andplate, a sickle, and means driven from the ratchet gear for driving thesickle.

9.. A mower having a frame, an axle in the frame supported on groundwheels and comprising two pieces arranged end to end, a pawl carryingplate secured to one of the pieces and comprising a hub spanning theadjacent ends of both pieces to provide a support therefor, a combinedgear and ratchet wheel loose on said hub and cooperating with the plateto enclose the pawls, a sickle, and

means driven from the gear to drive the sickle.

3. A mower having a frame, a two piece axle in the frame carryingwheels, a pawl carrying' plate having a hub spanning adjacent inner endsof the axle pieces, a taper key passed through the hub and one of thepieces, a nut for tightening said key to secure the hub fast on thepiece, a combined gear and ratchet wheel loose on said hub andcooperating with the plate to enclose the pawls, a sickle, and meansdriven from the gear to operate the sickle.

s1. A mower having a frame, an axle in the frame supported on groundwheels and comprising two pieces arranged end to end, a pawl and ratchetgear mechanism carried on the pieces and including a hub forming aninner support therefor, a countershaft provided with a combined gear andclutch element having a relatively long hub on said countershaft, acombined gear and complementary clutch element on said hub, the lattermember being driven from the ratchet gear mechanism, a sickle, meansdriven from the first gear and clutch element to drive said sickle, andmeans for actuating the clutch to stop and start the sickle.

5. A mower having a frame, an axle in the frame supported on groundwheels and comprising two pieces ar `anged end to end, a pawl andratchet gear mechanism carried on the pieces and including a hub formingan inner support therefor, a non-rotatable countershaft provided with acombined gear and clutch el-ement having a relatively long hub on thecountershaft, a combined gear and complementary clutch element loose onsaid hub,

the latter member being driven from the ratchet gear mechanism, asickle, means driven from the first gear and clutch element to drivesaid sickle, and means to slide the countershaft bodily and with it thefirst gear and clutch element to disconnect said element from the secondgear and complementary clutch element.

6. A mower having a frame, an axle in the frame supported on groundwheels and comprising two pieces arranged end to end, a pawl and ratchetgear mechanism carried on the pieces and including a hub forming' aninner support therefor, a transverse countershaft provided with a geardriven from the pawl and ratchet gear mechanism, a second gear on saidcountershaft, a clutch between said gears on said shaft, means to shiftthe shaft bodily to disconnect the clutch, a second transversecountershaft carrying a gear driven from the second gear on the firstcountershaft, a bevel gear on the second countershaft, a longitudinalshaft provided w-ith a bevel pinion driven from said bevel gear, asickle, and means to drive the sickle from the longitudinal shaft.

7. A mower having a frame, an axle in the frame supported on groundwheels and comprising two pieces arranged end to end, a pawl and ratchetgear mechanism carried on the pieces and including a hub forming aninner support therefor, a transverse countershaft provided with a geardriven from the pawl and ratchet gear mechanism, a second gear on saidcounter-shaft, a. clutch between said gears on said shaft, means toshift the shaft bodily to disconnect the clutch, a second transverse andnon-rotatable countershaft carrying a gear driven from the second gearon the first countershaft, a bevel gear on the second countershat't, alongitudinal shaft provided with a bevel pinion driven from said bevelgear, a sickle, means to drive the sickle from the longitudinal shaft,and means to adjust thc second countershaft bodily axially of its lengthto compensate for wear between the bevel gear and pinion on thelongitudinal shaft.

S. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe trame connected at its outer ends to ground wheels and comprisingtwo pieces arranged end to end in the casing, a pawl and ratchet gearmechanism carried on the inner ends ot' the pieces and including a hubforming an inner support therefor within the casing, a sickle, and meansoperated by said gear mechanism for driving the sickle.

9. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe frame connected at its outer ends to ground wheels and comprisingtwo pieces arranged end to end in the casing, a pawl plate having alonghub keyed to one of the pieces and spanning the end ofthe adjacentpiece, a second pawl plate keyed to the other piece, a ratchet gearloose on the hub of the first plate and arranged between the two plates,pawls on the plates to drive the ratchet gear, all of said parts beinglocated in the casing, a sickle, and means operated by the ratchet gearfor driving the sickle.

10. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe frame connected at its outer end to ground wheels and comprising twopieces arranged end to end in the casing, pawl and ratchet drivingmechanism carried on the inner ends of the pieces within the casing, atransverse counter-shaft journaled in said casing, gearing on thecountershaft driven from the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism, aclutch included in the gearing on the countershaft, means for slidingsaid countershait bodily endwise to disconnect the clutch, a sickle, andmeans driven from the countershaft gearing to operate the sickle.

l1. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe frame connected at its outer end to ground wheels and comprising twopieces arranged end to end in the casing, pawl and ratchet drivingmechanism carried on the inner ends of the pieces within the casing, atransverse countershaft j ournaled in said casing, gearing on thecountershaft driven from the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism, aclutch included in the gearing on the countershat't, means for slidingsaid counter-shaft bodily endwise to disconnect the clutch, a sickle,and means driven from the countershaft gearing to operate the sickle.

12. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe frame connccted at its outer end to ground wheels and comprising twopieces arranged end to end in the casing, pawl and ratchet drivingmechanism carried on the inner ends of the pieces within the casing, atransverse countershaft journaled in said casing, gearing on thecountershat't driven from the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism, saidgearing including a clutch, means to shift the countershaft bodilyendwise to disconnect the clutch, a second countershaft carrying gearingdriven from the gearing on the first countershaft, a longitudinal shaftextending forwardly through the casing and geared to be driven from thesecond countershaft, a sickle, means to drive the sickle from thelongitudinal shaft, and means to adjust the second countershaft endwiseto compensate for wear of the gearing between said countershaft and thelongitudinal shaft.

13. A mower having a frame including a transmission casing, an axle inthe frame connected at its outer end to ground wheels and comprising twopieces arranged end to end in the casing, pawl and ratchet drivingmechanism carried on the inner ends of the pieces within the casing, atransverse countershaft journaled in said casing, gearing on thecountershaft driven from the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism, aclutch on the countershaft, a sickle, means driven from thecountei-shaft to drive the sickle, the casing having a sloped bottomprovided with means to retain pools of oil in which the gearing plays tosplash oil to lubricate the parts.

InA testimony whereof I ax my signature.

CHARLES PEARSON.

